Fri Feb 15, 2013 at 13:34:23 PM EST

From the Virginia Senate Democratic Caucus, this is not good news for anyone who cares about our democracy.

RICHMOND, VA — Today, Senate Republicans continued their drive to force a radical and overreaching agenda on Virginia voters. In a party line-vote, Republicans passed HB 1337, which limits the forms of identification voters can use at the polls. The vote was 20 to 20, with Lt. Governor Bill Bolling breaking the tie and voting for the bill.

Senator John S. Edwards (D-Roanoke) said, “A whole list of previously acceptable forms of I.D. that we just added to the code last year are being removed. The public was informed about this. There has been no misuse of these forms of I.D. This bill stops students, who may only have a student I.D. card, from using that I.D. This will prevent them from voting. This is simply a voter suppression bill.”

Senator A. Donald McEachin (D-Henrico) said, “A year ago the Republicans insisted on changing voter I.D. laws. To educate people about these changes, the state spent a lot of money. And my colleagues on the other side of the aisle insisted this was necessary. A year later, we still have no evidence of voter fraud. None at all. Changing the rules yet again will just confuse the voters. I think that those who didn’t like the last election results are trying to do exactly that -- confuse voters.”

Senator Chap Petersen(D-Fairfax City) said, “Voter fraud isn’t happening, because no one would risk a felony conviction to give a politician one more vote.”

Sen. Herring: Obenshain, Senate GOP fight to make it HARDER for people to vote
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HERRING: OBENSHAIN, SENATE GOP PUSH ANTI-VOTING AGENDA

Leesburg - Democratic Attorney General candidate State Senator Mark Herring (Loudoun & Fairfax) released this statement following the Senate's passage of a yet another Voter ID bill on a straight party-line vote:

"Senator Obenshain and his Republican colleagues are having a harder and harder time convincing people of their policies, so rather than change their politics, their solution is to make it harder and harder for people who disagree with them to vote.

"Rather than addressing the problem of long lines at polling locations or enacting common sense reforms that make it easier for our citizens to vote, Senator Obenshain, Delegate Rob Bell and Republicans in Richmond are putting more obstacles in the way of voting, making voting harder. Their misguided efforts are wrong, will cost the Commonwealth of Virginia more money and will disenfranchise voters all across the state.

"I introduced legislation that included several reforms that would have made voting easier such as allowing for more early voting, extending voting hours and a longer voter registration period. These reforms would have encouraged greater participation and strengthened the democratic process in our state. Instead, Republicans are focused on confusing voters and suppressing the vote."

Too many Virginians just don't care that some people don't have all the necessary ID's. Saw a post somewhere that you could use a conceal carry gun permit for ID. If true must be the work of this Obenshain dude.

Of course, once can simply use two non-photo ID documents to receive a photo-ID: (note, you can receive both a VA drivers license and a US passport without using documents that have a photo)

Process for receiving a Virginia Drivers license:

Primary Proof of Identity:
Official birth document issued by a U.S. state, jurisdiction, or territory. (Birth documents issued by a hospital, notifications of birth registration, and foreign birth certficates are not accepted.)

Secondary Proof of Identity:
Social Security Card (the name on the card must match the name in DMV records)

Proof of Legal Presence:
Official birth document issued by a U.S. state, jurisdiction, or territory. (Birth documents issued by a hospital, notifications of birth registration, and foreign birth certficates are not accepted.)

Proof of Virginia Residency:
Payroll check stub issued by an employer within the last two months

Proof of Social Security:
Social security card

Voila A photo ID card with no documents that have a photo ID-

So why don't people do this? Because its a felony to lie to obtain documents-
And "because no one would risk a felony conviction to give a politician one more vote."

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